Some investigations on communication switching techniques in computer networks

Abstract

In realizing computer communication networks, one of the most important decisions is the proper choice of the communication scheme to be implemented at the subnet level. The selection of the best scheme depends very heavily on the nature of the traffic to be handled by the network. While the bursty nature of the computer traffic, as well as continuously decreasing cost of computer hardware, cause packet switching to be attractive; advantages of flexibility reliability and efficiency seem to favor hybrid switching. In this paper, utilizing the results of the queueing theory, we analyze three basic communication switching schemes: circuit switching; packet switching; and hybrid switching. We investigate the effects on their throughput characteristics of the parameters such as channel density, transmission efficiency, and mixture rate. Behaviour of channel density with transmission efficiency has been studied and a linear relationship is found to exist between these. The study has led to some new and interesting results which should be helpful to a designer in the choice of the proper switching scheme in various applications.